Hello, I am 27 years old and for the past few years the idea of me transitioning has been on my mind. It is something that wont go away. I get scared that its too late. Im not scared of being super passable. I just want to know will i see change to the point where i will be happy. I am very unhappy in the body i am in. I just want some stories, or advice. I have never posted on a forum before so take it easy on me! lol xoxo
Sweetie this avatar is really me and I started HRT at 47 years old. It is never too late, but it does come down to commitment, desire and courage. Welcome to the family Ariel! You will find everyone here understands you fully and will support you as good as they can. This place is so valuable even my Endo and Pharmacist recently joined to be in the know on changing transgender care. :)
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It's definitely not too late. As for whether you will change as much as you want, we don't know for sure. The thing is, you do know how unhappy you are now. Do you think it is worth the risk?
I did it at 43, 18 months ago. I think I did OK...
No such thing as too late in my book, whether you're 27 or 72.
Ariel, I hope it's not to late because we're the same age! :P
In the grand scheme of things 27 isn't old. I'm 25 (started at 24) and things are changing. Sure, I have a very tough time seeing things myself and being positive about myself, but there is a huge change in my appearance compared to where I started. However, you never really know. Age is only one aspect of things. Genetics plays a big role to and you can never know how things will play out. But it's true that the younger typically have a better response to hormones, in general. As Edge said above, it's a risk but you have to consider whether it's one worth taking.
In any case, I really recommend thinking about things besides passing when thinking about transitioning. Hoenstly, I didn't really fully understand how to deal with all the changes and how to handle it all. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be transitioning as this is what I want, but I wish I was more emotionally adjusted to where I am and could handle everything around me better. Transitioning isn't easy and you will need to be able to adapt with everything going around you. Being able to cope and deal with the emotional gravity of the situation is really essential and it's something I wish I didn't assume I would learn as I went which is what I am doing. Self confidence is key to making a succesful transition. So that's the most important lesson I've learned as I have been transitioning and one that I would promote over appearances.
I'm in the transitioning at age 27 club as well. ;) I technically started low dose HRT when I was 24, but I didn't really start taking serious steps toward transitioning until late last year. Transitioning in your mid twenties is actually a pretty common age to transition. Sometimes we just don't know ourselves well enough to figure out we are transgender any sooner. For some of us it takes a lot longer... I'm not sure what you consider the amount of change that you need to be happy, but do keep in mind that hormones don't always do everything we'd like them to (we've had a lot of discussion on that topic recently in the M2F and HRT sections). Transitioning can be a long a challenging road to travel, so it really helps to go into things with reasonable expectations. But, hormones certainly aren't going to make your body any worse, for what it's worth. ;)
Lol 27 isn't old.
Over 30 here... totally doable at 27...
I started HRT about 3 months after my 27th birthday.
Am I completely 100% happy with my results? No, not quite, I still wish I had a smaller build and more hair.
But is it enough that I'm gendered female close to 100% of the time, and that I'm able to be a girl without it actively interfering with my life on an average day? Absolutely.
Most of my closest trans friends all transitioned between the ages of 27 and 33. All of them are close to 100% passable in terms of them being accepted by people as female, to the point that it doesn't interfere with their lives on an average day anymore. Yes, it does depend on whether you're receptive to HRT or not, (which is a genetic lottery,) and yes it does depend on bone structure, but I think you'd be surprised what the consistency is for those who start HRT while still at their hypothetical "athletic peak" of 20-35. HRT can do quite a number on you when your body is still at the age where it's in good shape and can still rapidly renew itself.
And we have people here who have had AMAZING results even well past 50. My roommate Dale didn't transition until she was 60, and she still got full boob growth and passes close to 100% of the time.
It's NEVER too late.
And frankly, if you're in your 20s, you're still at the IDEAL age. The median age that people transition at is 35-40. At 27, you're still a spring chicken, and trust me, you'll constantly hear from people "I WISH I could have transitioned as young as you."
I'm transitioning at 51. 27? That's young! :)
I know that there are girls that transitioned far later than my age.
It's better to begin to live a correct life at any age than to look back some day with regret that you didn't make the choice to do so.
To answer the question.
No, nope, never to old to find ones happiness.
Truly not a easy thing to do anytime in life. Maturity holds some advantages.
Isabell
As others have said, 27 is young :) I started at 43 (just turned 44). At 27, you have so much ahead of you and years to settle into your true gender.
I'm 26 and hopefully starting in the next month or so. Honestly, I'd say bone structure is the most important thing. Hell, some men with small frames could pass as women w/o hrt at 60; especially with ffs and body work. I really hate my bone structure, primarily my hands... but nothing will change that. I'm trying to get past it, but it's tough.
I'd say at 27 you'll probably get noticeable results as a lot can change, and your still young enough that some things more than likely will change to an extent or maybe a lot. Something's are set now that your through puberty, BUT, technically speaking, you may not be through puberty 100% in some aspects. You could have some more masculinizing to do. Your bone structure won't change and you probably won't develop a totally female body or face, but if things change enough (maybe if even just muscle bulk and skin texture) then you can always enhance your appearance with surgery. It really sucks. I'd rather be all natural, but I realize that more than likely I'll need several enhancement surgeries to be remotely satisfied. Then there is the fear that after surgeries I'll look a bit off.
It really is tough being transgendered. I wish that I was a CIS female, a small framed transwoman, or even a CIS male. I pretty much just want the awkwardness of my life to stop. I just want to be comfortable with myself. I'm hoping that I end up physically passing. I'm sure in some situations I will, but who knows what the percentage of my passing will be; I estimate the potential at 5%-99%. I'm hoping to physically get to a point where someone would look at me and say "man, she must have played college basketball or something" or where someone might think "is she trans... nah, probably just tall and well built." Basically I just want to be comfortable with who I am. I want to be happy and I get the feeling that I'll never be happy as I am right now and these feelings will never go away. The potential to have a life as what I feel is my appropriate gender is enough for me to take the risk. I'm pretty terrified and alone right now though, and it's depressing to think of what I may have looked like if I started younger. You can have great results at any age, but if you feel like the feelings will never stop then its probably best to start now. In ten years you could be in the same boat, just a bit further down the line and in a worse position to transition then you are now.
Anyway, whether I'm seen as a CIS female or a transwoman, I'm just trying to be comfortable with who I am, not who I could have been. I guess that's the goal of transitioning; to become comfortable regardless of whether you pass. I'm hoping at the least I can become a pretty ts. I can do a solid female voice already and I'd consider VFS. If my body and voice are feminine enough then I may just tell people I was born with acromegaly if it ever comes up and I'm uncomfortable with saying that I'm trans. And women are born with acromegaly and other physical disorders, as are men. Many, probably all of them, wish things were different, but they still live their lives. Just think of yourself as a woman who was born with a birth defect or hormone deficiency... since that's basically what you are. I may even tell some people that I played college basketball and had some tryouts with the WNBA for fun...
Short answer, no, I don't think it's too old. There are some man-child boys out there who are 12 and would never fully pass, even if they started now. So I guess just really think it through and make as best a decision as you can. Good luck!!!
I started when I was 43 years old almost five months ago. It is never too late.
I just turned 28 and happy I've made the decision to start my transition now. Make the best decision that lets you be comfortable being "you". It's never too late to be truly at peace with yourself.
52 years old
Hugs
Jen
I'm 48 and just getting started. I've had more than my fair share of doubts about my age, yet here I am! From my perspective, starting at 27 would have been great!
My therapist has a quote in her waiting room: "Sooner or later we must give up all hope for a better yesterday."
If transitioning is right for you, (and that's a big "if" for anyone, whether you are 17, 27, or 77!), then the point is to get started and not worry about what might have been.
Kim :)
Quote from: KimSails on July 15, 2014, 01:40:35 PM
I'm 48 and just getting started. I've had more than my fair share of doubts about my age, yet here I am! From my perspective, starting at 27 would have been great!
My therapist has a quote in her waiting room: "Sooner or later we must give up all hope for a better yesterday."
If transitioning is right for you, (and that's a big "if" for anyone, whether you are 17, 27, or 77!), then the point is to get started and not worry about what might have been.
Kim :)
I so agree with this!
I am 52 and I have been on HRT for over 8 months. All I can say is that if 27 is the right time for you, then it is a perfect age to transition. We would all have loved to transition earlier but I suspect the train wrecks would be everywhere.
Helps to work on a better tomorrow regardless of age.
I'm also 27, Ariel, so I'm in the same boat. I've been afraid to transition too, but I still think it will be worth it. While I wish I could have had the courage earlier, nobody has a time machine to grant that wish yet. It's still better to start now then later. We'll be even older later.
Officially 58 now and still undecided about going full-time after 6 years of sorting and straightening out my life. I have ZERO doubt that starting on this path has been one of enlightenment. I know me, I accept me, I finally enjoy being me.
Transition does not necessarily mean having to go full time. Transition means a state of change. And a lot of that change is from within.
It's never too old to transition if YOU want to. The only exception in transitioning is if you are permanently sick and it won't make you happy and you can not overcome any physical pain.
Best wishes for you.
Thank you for all the replies! It was great reading every single reply. I look forward to the new me. xoxo Ariel
I started HRT at 25... err 30... err 39... :) So no, it's not too late. I only wish I had followed through when I was 25... or 30... :-) All of those missed years :) Too bad I hadn't convinced myself that there was no other option and that I hadn't just "lacked positive male experiences"...
EDIT - and I'm 3 months in on HRT (April 23rd) and I already have some body fat redistribution, muscle loss, and breast growth :) And I'm also still losing weight! Things are happening. Awesome things :)
--Miranda
Quote from: mirandagirl on July 16, 2014, 05:43:30 PM
I started HRT at 25... err 30... err 39... :) So no, it's not too late. I only wish I had followed through when I was 25... or 30... :-) All of those missed years :) Too bad I hadn't convinced myself that there was no other option and that I hadn't just "lacked positive male experiences"...
EDIT - and I'm 3 months in on HRT (April 23rd) and I already have some body fat redistribution, muscle loss, and breast growth :) And I'm also still losing weight! Things are happening. Awesome things :)
--Miranda
Excellent Miranda!!!!
Welcome!!!
Hugs,
Jen
I'm 47 and just getting started with therapy. If all goes as planned I'll be starting HRT next winter. I have known this is what I want for over 30 years, just too afraid to move forward. Better late than never:)
Im 49 but tell everyone im 34 so do I average then or what? I hate the term passing as in what? Who is the judge in these matters? There are cis women that don't pass well, right? I think passing at being ones self is the best and being happy and liking who we are thats what matters not what others think of us. Just my humble opinion.
I may not pass or whatever to others but I take enough selfies in self love to make up for all of it, lol. Having my wife call me pretty...well screw everyone else.
Quote from: KimSails on July 15, 2014, 01:40:35 PM
I'm 48 and just getting started. I've had more than my fair share of doubts about my age, yet here I am! From my perspective, starting at 27 would have been great!
My therapist has a quote in her waiting room: "Sooner or later we must give up all hope for a better yesterday."
If transitioning is right for you, (and that's a big "if" for anyone, whether you are 17, 27, or 77!), then the point is to get started and not worry about what might have been.
Kim :)
You dont look 48, nope, not at all :).
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on July 20, 2014, 02:32:05 PM
You dont look 48, nope, not at all :).
Thanks Emily! :) Though that has a lot to do with makeup, wig, small picture (doesn't show wrinkles), and picking the best of about 20 pictures that day!
Basically, I don't think there is anyone on this forum who doesn't with they had started sooner. You're lucky, 27 is young. Get thee to a therapist, make sure this is the path for you, and if so, don't waste another day to get on it! You'll regret it otherwise....
I saw this video on you tube of a 63 old transgender woman. This video actually made me smile. I'm 26 and I haven't gone on hormones yet and of course I get upset when I think about it but this lady made me feel really good about my age.
youtube.com/watch?v=DvFFOiN-BYU&list=UUkKRVoQLgbY2LDjwji9aowg
I don't know if I can post links so just copy and paste. At 7 minutes she shows off her changes and the smile she gives is just amazing.
So dont think your too old. As a friend once told me "Your never to old to start over".
Definitely not too old! My mom and I are both trans, and she's just now starting to transition at 40-something... I don't think it's too late at all. It's never too late to take steps to be happy with yourself and your life, IMO.